Rangers 1B likely to miss rest of season

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Prince Fielder is recovering from neck surgery and not expected to play again this season for the Texas Rangers.

Fielder had a cervical fusion of the C5 and C6 disks in his neck Tuesday. The Rangers say the surgery performed in Dallas by specialist Dr. Drew Dossett went as expected.

The first baseman is expected to be discharged from the hospital Wednesday. Fielder then faces what the team calls “an extended period of rehabilitation” that will “most likely” make him miss the rest of the season.

Mets’ new hitting coach has catching up to do

NEW YORK (AP) — Lamar Johnson has a lot of catching up to do in his new job as Mets hitting coach.

Promoted back to the big leagues Monday when the team fired Dave Hudgens, Johnson joined the New York staff before Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

His task? Figure out a way to help a struggling lineup that began the day ranked last in the National League with a .352 slugging percentage.